Ski composed of several elements

ABSTRACT

In a ski with a body consisting of several elements that are arranged parallel and in layers and connected by adhesives and/or form-fit into each other it is proposed to arrange shaped elements (12, 13, 16) in layers that extend over most of the length of the ski body and consist of a supporting element (16) that is provided with longitudinal cavities (20, 21) in which the longitudinal ribs provided for this purpose on two anti-shock elements (12, 13) are inserted. Anti-shock layers (14, 15) of an elastomer material are inserted between the elements (12, 13, 16). The ski is characterized by good shock absorption properties and even running.

The disclosed invention is a ski with a body consisting of severalelements that are arranged beside and/or on top of the other. Theelements are connected by adhesives and/or form-fit into each other. Theski consists of a minimum of two elements that are arranged one on topof the other and extend over almost the total length of the ski body.One of these two shaped parts has a longitudinal cavity in which alongitudinal rib of the other element engages.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A ski of the type described above is known from DE-OS 23 32 909 andDE-OS 34 27 111. The skis described in these patents consist of severallayers and elements of different materials. These layers and elementsare combined with the goal to arrange them in such a way that they willabsorb the bending and torsion loads that occur when the ski is used andgive the ski the respective degree of stiffness and elasticity requiredby the user. The mutually interlocking elements are connected with astrong glue joint.

DE-OS 38 03 535 describes a ski with a body that contains a coreextending over practically the total length of the ski. This core issurrounded by a box designed to offer resistance to the variousoccurring mechanical forces. The box has an upper and a lower resistancelamella which are mutually connected by means of two lateral resistancewalls. The core in the middle of the box can consist of differentmaterials such as wood, synthetic foam or other materials of cellularstructure. However, it can also be partly hollow, which means that itcan consist, for example, of metal or plastic tubes. The deformationproperties and the running characteristics of this well-known ski aremainly due to the shape of the box and the deformation resistanceensured by the resistance lamellas and resistance walls.

DE-OS 24 33 673 describes a ski with a longitudinal core of hollow,tube-shaped elements. The core furthermore contains ribs that connectthe elements and keep the tube-shaped elements parallel and at a fixeddistance. The result are longitudinal grooves between the tube-shapedelements. These grooves are filled with a filling material. The runningsurface of the ski consists of a level lower plate that is glued to thebottom surface of the core. The core consists preferably of twoidentical corrugated plates arranged symmetrically one on top of theother. The surfaces where the two elements meet are glued together. Thecompromise between ski stiffness and ski elasticity can be modified bychanging the thickness of the adhesive.

EP-A-00 81 834 describes another ski with a box. Surrounded by the box,the core of the ski contains two parallel longitudinal plastic tubesthat are increasingly flattened towards their ends. A metal platemounted above the tubes holds the binding. The core surrounding thetubes consists of a cellular expanded plastic such as polyurethane foamthat is shaped around the tubes.

A technique used for the production of metal skis is described in DE-OS15 78 700. The upper part of the metal ski is provided with a plasticvibration reduction covering. The edges of the vibration reductioncovering are glued to the top layer of the ski.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A connection or sealing strip of elastic foam material carrying a layerof adhesive can be used to glue the vibration reduction covering to theski.

The proposed invention is intended to create a ski of the type describedby way of introduction that is characterized by good torsion resistanceand bending elasticity and guarantees even running and good absorptionof vibrations.

These requirements are met by combining at least two shaped elementsthat extend over most over the length of the ski body one on top of theother. One of the elements has a longitudinal groove in which thelongitudinal rib of the other element engages. The space between the twoelements is filled with a layer of elastomer material that is connectedwith the elements by means of a shear force transmitting medium.

The characteristics of the proposed ski are mainly due to the particularshape and arrangement of the shear force transmitting elastomer layerbetween the elements. This results in a particularly efficientabsorption of those vibrations which occur when skiing over uneventerrain and affect mainly the end sections of the ski. The proposedmethod thus ensures more even running and better traction on the snowsurface, which improves the ski's straight running properties, thesteering characteristics and ski response to changes in direction.Additionally, the elastomer layer functions as an anti-shock pad.Lateral forces such as edge pressure and edge grip manifest themselvesmainly in the form of pressure on the elastomer layer due to theinterlocking arrangement of the main elements. This means that suchlateral forces can be very efficiently absorbed.

The elastomer layer is recommended to extend over most of the width ofthe ski body.

The elements can be differently shaped. However, particular advantageshave been shown to be due to a design in which the surfaces bordering onthe elastomer layer are curved across the length of the main elements.Particularly good properties can be achieved if these surfaces almosttake the shape of a cylinder or cone section. A good relationshipbetween the height and width of the ski body and particularly favourabledeformation and anti-shock characteristics can be achieved byimplementation of another method proposed as part of the invention. Therunning surface of the ski is provided with two parallel anti-shockelements that are inserted in parallel cavities in a third element, i.e.a supporting element, that extends over both anti-shock elements. Thesupporting element should have two parallel grooves in which the twoanti-shock elements can be inserted. The depth of the grooves and theheight of the anti-shock elements to be inserted into the grooves bothdecrease from the middle section, i.e. the section carrying the binding,towards the ends of the elements. The favourable shape of the ski can befurther enhanced by increasing the width of the elements from the middlesection carrying the binding towards the ends of the ski. Inserted inthe grooves, the anti-shock elements have a largely level surface on theexterior side, i.e. the side opposite to the elastomer layer. Thissurface is on the same level as the edges of the grooves. Thus, thethree elements are combined into one united contact surface for anelement that can function either as the running surface or the topsurface of the ski, e.g. a resistance element.

Particularly favourable ski characteristics can be ensured bymanufacturing the elements in the shape of tubes with walls of a highlyresistant material such as metal, a fibre material or fibre-reinforcedplastic. The tubes can be either hollow or filled with a fillingmaterial, preferably of low density.

The invention furthermore proposes the possibility of resistance stripsof a highly resistant material to be inserted between the elements andthe running surface of the ski. The number of resistance strips and/orthe material thickness and/or the strip width can vary depending on thetype of application for which the ski is intended. Resistance strips arerecommended to bridge the gap between the individual elements in thearea of the elastomer layer. Additionally, a frictional connection canbe established between the resistance strips and the steel edges on bothsides of the running surface, thus ensuring better hold of the steeledges. The material recommended for the resistance strips is a titaniumalloy.

An additional proposal consists of an element with one or severalcavities that is provided with resistance walls along its lateral edges.The height of the resistance walls can decrease together with theconstruction height of the element from the middle section carrying thebinding towards the ends of the element. The space between the groovesand/or the resistance walls is recommended to be filled with a fillingmaterial. Another option proposed as part of the invention is to build abox around the elements for better mechanical resistance. The box canconsist of fibre-reinforced plastic and/or metallic, thermoplasticand/or duroplastic materials. The exterior shape of the box varies withthe type of application and geometry of the ski and depends mainly onthe shape and, thus, on the exterior contour of the interconnectedelements. The hollow spaces between the elements and the box can befilled with a filling material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained by means of a practical example illustratedin the following figures:

FIG. 1: top view of a ski manufactured according to the proposed method;

FIG. 2: cross section (along line A--A) through the ski illustrated inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3: cross section (along line B--B) through the ski illustrated inFIG. 1;

FIG. 4: cross section (along line C--C) through the ski illustrated inFIG. 1;

FIG. 5: perspective view of the individual elements constituting the skiillustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6: top view of a different variety of ski manufactured according tothe proposed method;

FIG. 7: cross section (along line A--A) through the ski illustrated inFIG. 6;

FIG. 8: cross section (along line B--B) through the ski illustrated inFIG. 6; and

FIG. 9: cross section (along line C--C) through the ski illustrated inFIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The ski illustrated in FIG. 1 is not shown in its actual length. Itconsists of a front section (1) with a tip (2), a middle section (3) anda rear section (4). The front (1) and the rear section (4) are widerthan the middle section (3). The cross sections illustrated in FIGS. 2-4show that the middle section (3) of the ski is higher/thicker than thefront section (1) and the rear section (4). The different thickness ofthe various sections of the ski is due to the different bending forcesto which the respective parts are exposed and ensures that the forcesacting on the ski are equally distributed from the middle section (3)over the entire length of the ski.

The body of the ski consists of the following different elements andlayers:

The bottom of the ski is the running surface (5) that consists of a thinsheet of plastic material such as polyethylene. The lateral edges of therunning surface (5) are provided with steel edges (6, 7). The runningsurface (5) and the steel edges (6, 7) are provided with resistancestrips (8, 9, 10) consisting of a titanium alloy. Resistance strip (9)is glued to the running surface (5), while strips (8) and (10) are gluedto both the running surface (5) and the steel edges (6, 7). The spacebetween the resistance strips (8, 9, 10) is filled with a layer offilling material (11) that corresponds in thickness to the resistancestrips.

The resistance strips (8, 9, 10) carry two anti-shock elements (12, 13)that bridge the two layers of filling material (11). The cross sectionof these anti-shock elements is a circle segment and varies over thelength of the ski. The flat bottom of the anti-shock elements is gluedonto the resistance strips (8, 9, 10). The anti-shock elements (12, 13)consist of long tubes of glass or carbon fibre-reinforced plastic. Thehollow space within the tubes is filled with a filling material. Thefilling material can consist of inorganic and/or organic powders, shortand/or longer fibres, tissue scraps and/or grainy materials consistingof granules or grains of any shape. The upper sides of the anti-shockelements (12, 13) are curved and covered with an anti-shock layer (14,15) of an elastomer material such as silicone rubber.

The anti-shock elements (12, 13) and the anti-shock layers (14, 15) arecovered by a supporting element (16) that has a middle rib (17) and twolateral ribs (18, 19) that rest on and are fixed to the resistancestrips (8, 9, 10). The anti-shock layers (14, 15) are glued to theanti-shock elements (12, 13) and the supporting element (16). Thisenables them to absorb shear forces. The supporting element (16)consists of a profiled tube. The exterior surface consists of a wall ofhighly resistant glass or coal fibre reinforced plastic and encloses ahollow space filled with a filling material of lower density andresistance. The supporting element (16) has two grooves (20 and 21).With a circular arc cross section, these grooves are connected by amiddle rib (17). The narrowest part of the grooves (20, 21) is locatedin the middle section (3) of the ski where they are more pronouncedlycurved. Towards the ends of the ski these grooves become increasinglywider and more shallow and, consequently, less curved. The exteriorsides of the lateral ribs (18, 19) of the supporting element (16) haveresistance walls (22, 23) consisting of two wall layers of thesupporting element (16) glued together one on top of the other. Theresistance walls reach their largest height in the middle section (3).Towards the ends of the supporting element (16) the height decreases.The resistance walls (22, 23) serve to stabilize the lateral edges ofthe ski, thus contributing to the overall bending strength.

The top surface of the supporting element (16) is covered by adimensionally stable layer of filling material (24) that fills thecavities in the top surface of the supporting element (16) to both sidesof the grooves (20, 21) and, thus, creates an even surface. The layer offilling material is covered by a top layer (25) that extends around theresistance walls (22, 23) on the sides and consists of carbonfibre-reinforced plastic. The top layer (25) is glued to the layer offilling material (24) and the resistance walls (22, 23).

The described ski is marked by a regular variation pattern of theresistance properties along the length of the ski body. The proposeddesign ensures that the forces acting on the running surface aredistributed in direct proportion to the length and width of the ski. Theresult is a favourable distribution of the surface pressure and edgeload, which ensures that the ski runs straight and evenly and offersgood steering characteristics. The design of the supporting element, theanti-shock elements and the fact that they are connected by theanti-shock layer guarantee a favourable compromise between ski stiffnessand elasticity and ensures a high degree of torsion stiffniess.Additionally, the anti-shock layer efficiently absorbs vibrations, whichimproves the even running qualities of the ski. On the whole, it hasbeen shown that skis manufactured according to the proposed method allowextraordinarily good control over the ski regardless of the prevailingsnow and piste conditions. Additionally, the proposed method ensures aski that will respond optimally to changes in direction and offerexcellent curve acceleration properties.

The ski illustrated in FIGS. 6-9 has the same basic structure as the skiillustrated in FIGS. 1-5. Identical construction elements are,therefore, indicated by identical reference numbers. However, to reducethe weight of the ski, the upper side of the supporting element (16)with the two longitudinal ribs inserted into the grooves (20, 21), hasbeen only partly covered with filling material, i.e. only in the middlesection (3) carrying the binding. The upper side of the supportingelement (16) is in sections 27 and 28 either only glued to a mechanicalreinforcement layer or it can be exposed save for a thin protective ordecorative layer. Additional ribs (29, see broken line in the drawings)can be integrated between the two elevations in sections 27 and 28 forgreater stiffness and better transmission of forces from the edges. Thenumber of cross ribs (29) can be adjusted to the respective requirementsin terms of stiffness.

The lateral ribs (18, 19) of the upper and lower wall layers of thesupporting element (16) are directly connected (e.g. by a bonding agent)in the ski illustrated in FIGS. 6-9. The exterior edges of the lateralribs (18, 19) of the upper wall layer are folded downwards so that theycover the exterior edge of the bottom wall layer of the supportingelement (16).

The top of the supporting element (16) is covered by a thin-walledshaped element (30) of fibre material that is adjusted to the shape ofthe supporting element (16) in sections 27 and 28 and bonded to thesupporting element (16). In section 3 this shaped element (30) isdesigned as a trapezoid box to allow mounting of the binding. The spacebetween the shaped element (30) and the supporting element (16) isfilled with a dimensionally stable layer of filling material (24). Theshaped element (30) and the supporting element (16) are increasinglyflattened towards the tip (2) and the end (26) of the ski. There, theyare directly glued to the resistance strips 8-10 and the running surface(5). The edge of the shaped element (30) is shaped like an angular ledge(31) that rests on the lateral ribs (18, 19) and extends around thelatter on the exterior side. The angular ledge (31) is bonded to theedge ribs (18, 19). Thus, a robust lateral rib is created that can bepartly ground off.

Tested in practice, the basic method that has been described so farallows a number of variations all based on the general principle of theinvention. It is, for example, possible to vary the number of elementsthat serve as anti-shock elements and supporting elements. It could, forinstance, be sufficient for a less sophisticated model to use only oneanti-shock element and one supporting element with one anti-shock layerin between. On the other hand, it is also possible to increase thenumber of anti-shock elements. It is, for example, possible to arrangeanti-shock elements on both sides of the supporting element. The crosssection of both the ski body and the elements connected by means of theanti-shock layer can be varied. It is, for example, possible to havedifferently inclined resistance walls on either side of the ski. Theanti-shock elements can consist of tubes that have a cylindrical crosssection in the middle and are flattened to an increasingly oval crosssection towards the ends. Additionally, it is possible to design theseelements as solid structures consisting of one single material such as aduroplastic or thermoplastic material. Fibre-reinforced elements can bemanufactured in different ways with the conventional technologies and ofwell-tried plastics. The reinforcing inserts may consist of glass fibre,carbon fibre, aramide fibre and carbonised and graphitized fibres.Furthermore, it is possible to insert resistance strips of metal withinor below the cover layer.

I claim:
 1. A snow ski, comprising:a ski body; a supporting elementdisposed on an upper surface of said ski body, said supporting elementdefining two parallel first longitudinal cavities between an uppersurface of the ski body and a lower inner surface of the supportingelement, said cavities extending substantially along a length of theski; two anti-shock elements, one of said two anti-shock elementsdisposed in each of said first longitudinal cavities, each of saidanti-shock elements having a shape which essentially corresponds to ashape of said first longitudinal cavity, wherein a lower surface of eachanti-shock element is bonded to the upper surface of the ski body; andan elastomeric anti-shock layer disposed in each of said firstlongitudinal cavities between an upper surface of each anti-shockelement and said lower inner surface of said supporting element, saidanti-shock layer being connected to said lower inner surface of saidsupporting element and said upper surface of said anti-shock element byshear force transmitting means.
 2. A snow ski as recited in claim 1,wherein each anti-shock element defines a second longitudinal cavitybelow a lower surface thereof, said ski further comprising a fillermaterial filling said second longitudinal cavity.
 3. A snow ski asrecited in claim 1, wherein said ski body comprises:a running surfacelayer having two longitudinal sides, an upper surface, and a lowersurface; edges fixedly attached to each of said two longitudinal sides;a reinforcing layer disposed on the upper surface of the running surfacelayer and an upper surfaces of each of the edges, wherein saidreinforcing layer is bonded to the respective upper surfaces.
 4. A snowski according to claim 3, wherein said reinforcing layer comprises atleast two longitudinal reinforcing strips disposed in a parallelconfiguration along a length of the running surface layer with a gaptherebetween, wherein said gap is filled with a gap filling material. 5.A snow ski according to claim 3, wherein said longitudinal cavitiesdefine two convex bulges which are semi-circular in cross section andwhich extend in a longitudinal direction.
 6. A snow ski according toclaim 5, wherein said semi-circular bulges have cross sections whichvary along the length of the ski.
 7. A snow ski according to claim 6,where each anti-shock element has a shape and a varying cross sectionwhich corresponds to an inner surface of the supporting element.
 8. Asnow ski as recited in claim 3, wherein said running surface layer, saidedges, said reinforcing layer, said supporting element and saidanti-shock elements are securely bonded together.
 9. A snow ski asrecited in claim 3, wherein said supporting element includeslongitudinal edge portions having a first surface extending outwardly bya first distance in a direction which is parallel to the upper surfaceof the ski body, and a second surface extending upwardly from the firstsurface by a second distance in a direction which is perpendicular to anupper surface of the ski body.
 10. A snow ski as recited in claim 9,wherein said first distance and said second distance varies along alength of the ski.
 11. A snow ski as recited in claim 5, wherein anouter surface of the contour layer includes a groove between the convexbulges, said groove being filled with a filler material.
 12. A snow skias recited in claim 6, wherein a height of the convex bulges at acentral portion of the ski is greater than a height of the convex bulgesat distal ends thereof.
 13. A snow ski as recited in claim 5, wherein awidth of said convex bulges at a central portion of the ski is less thana width of the bulges at distal ends thereof.
 14. A snow ski as recitedin claim 9, wherein an upper surface of the ski is encapsulated by anencapsulating element.
 15. A snow ski as recited in claim 4, whereinsaid supporting element and said anti-shock elements comprise metal. 16.A snow ski as recited in claim 4, wherein said supporting element andsaid anti-shock elements comprise fiber material.
 17. A snow ski asrecited in claim 4, wherein said supporting element comprises afiber-reinforced plastic material.
 18. A snow ski as recited in claim 4,wherein said filler material is a low-density filler material.
 19. Asnow ski as recited in claim 5, wherein said reinforcing layer comprisesat least two longitudinal reinforcing strips disposed in a parallelconfiguration along a length of the running surface layer with a gaptherebetween, wherein one of said at least two longitudinal reinforcingstrips is configured at a position on the ski body wherein, in crosssection and with the ski body as a bottom layer, the one reinforcingstrip is under a longitudinal edge of one of the anti-shock elements, aportion of the anti-shock layer, and the a portion of the supportingelement.